Cornwall 2025

Thinking about a road trip, well it was a flight followed by a road trip was Cornwall in August 2025.

Why Cornwall?

Curiously, my cousin Elaine visited Lima in July 2025 and while we talked about our forthcoming trip to Ireland and a holiday destination for a few days, she suggested Cornwall. After a bit of thought I booked it.

Porthtowan Beach

After landing in Newquay Airport, we hired a car and off we went to Porthtowan Beach. There I met my Auntie Anne, my cousin Helen and her kids. A nice afternoon was had there.

Saint Ives

Then it was off to Saint Ives, where we stayed for two days. We enjoyed our time there as the place had a relaxed atmosphere and free parking.

Saint Ives is a beautiful place, so we spent the next two days at the beach and exploring the town. Some great restaurants beside the beach with a relaxed vibe.

Newquay

After two days it was off to Newquay, a beautiful part of the world. We stayed in a hotel near the beach which was nice but a bit more impersonal than the place in Saint Ives.

After a few days it was back to Strabane but it was a great trip. Our plane was rather small and cute, as you can see.

Bernard’s Watch

There was a TV show in the UK inthe 90s in which a boy could stop time with a magic pocket watch.  

This would give me more free time allowing me to do all the the things I want and need to do.

Brexit: My 2p’s Worth

As Mrs. May’s meaningful vote takes place tomorrow (Tuesday) and as the government has three working days to come up with an alternative, this is going to be a momentus week in the Palace of Westminster.

PROVIDING CERTAINTY

Although the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated by Mrs May is not perfect, it will provide certainly for businesses and individuals so they can plan ahead. If the agreement were not to pass we would be plunged into a period of uncertainty which benefits no-one.

THE BACKSTOP

This seems to be a difficult issue in the UK but for the island of Ireland, the backstop is essential. There is no way we want to go back to the hard border of yesteryear and the backstop is an insurance policy against a hard border.

GENERAL ELECTION

As much as I would like to see a Labour government I don’t think there will be a General Election. Tory Brexiteers and the DUP would back Mrs May in any confidence vote and anyway, if Jeremy Corbyn thought he could get a General Election in this way he would have tabled a no-confidence motion before now. The clock is ticking down to Brexit on 29th March and there is no time for a general election.

SECOND REFERENDUM

I didn’t want people to vote for the UK to leave the EU but I am not sure about the idea of asking them to vote again. The proposal would be devisive and could lead to civil unrest so in a sense the UK has made its bed and will have to lie in it.

EXTEND ARTICLE 50

This seems like a sensible option as it would buy the UK government time. It wouldn’t solve the problem but it would mean that there would be time to form another plan. This could be seen however as kicking the can down the road.

A NO-DEAL BREXIT

This option would be very damaging for the UK and for Northern Ireland in particular and must be avoided at all costs. This would lead to a hard border in Northern Ireland and could destabilise the peace process.

DAMAGE LIMITATION

Brexit was always going to make the UK worse off and Mrs May’s job in getting a deal with the EU was to limit the damage. The Withdrawal Agreement achieves Brexit and doesn’t damage the UK economy too much in the process, therefore, although I’m not a fan of Brexit I want a hard Brexit to be avoided so I hope the Withdrawal Agreement passes.